Tool for finger-pressure treatment and massage



May 1953 TAKEO NAKAYAMA 2,836,175

TOOL FOR FINGER-PRESSURE TREATMENT'AND MASSAGE Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW!!! HHWHH INVENTOR. TIM 6o me KA VAN") May 1958 TAKEO NAKAYAMA 2,836,175

TOOL FOR FfNGER-ERESSURE TREATMENT AND MASSAGE Filed Oct. 2, 1956' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. 764% 4 9 m MA United States Patent" 9 i TOOL FOR FINGER-PRESSURE TREATMENT AND MASSAGE Taken N akayama, Tokyo, Japan Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,484

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-60) The present invention relates to a tool for fingerpressure treatment and massage, and has for its object the curing of disease or promoting health through elimination of congestion of the blood or inflammation by restoring muscular fatigue, reviving the weakened cells and exciting circulation of the blood owing to stimulation caused by rubbing, thrusting, pressing or kneading the body.

In maintaining health and curing a disease, it has been a common practice to employ a block or board having projections thereon, applying said projections onto the body in such a manner as to rub, thrust, press or knead the body by means of its movements backward and forward or right and left, and this method is well known to the public. Further, as to the tools designed for such purposes various kinds of types and models have been contrived and experimented with so far. However, in the present invention a new idea and a novel design are introduced in order to obtain better effects of massage. As it will be seen in the detailed description given hereinafter and accompanying drawings, in the present invention special action-free spherical bodies are adapted in lieu of the hithertofore known projections, which will positively accelerate the efficiency of massage. Said spherical bodies are arranged so as to move freely inclining backward and forward or right and left, and in order to facilitate the manner of treatment and carry it out efficiently said operating spherical bodies are aligned in a rational position, and further along the circumference of the base board indented parts are formed so as to make it easier to be held by hand during treatment. Said indented parts are also conveniently used to remedy congestion of the blood along the scrulf of the neck, namely by applying said indented part to the neck the thrusting and pressing effects will be given thereto on either side by means of the projections on the both sides of said indented part, and with accompanying effects being produced on the other parts of the neck under thrust and pressure of the operating spherical bodies, thus it is possible to accomplish the desired object.

In order that the present invention may be positively understood, examples of the embodiment of the tools for finger-pressure treatment and massage as disclosed in the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front view of a tool according to the present invention, wherein there are six pieces of an operating spherical body on the surface of a base board;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a front view where four pieces of the operating spherical body are fitted on the surface of the base board;

Fig. 4 illustrates the case where two pieces of the operating spherical body are fitted as above;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 4 substantially along the line AB; and

Fig. 6 shows a sectional view in part illustrating the working manner of the operating spherical body.

2,836,175 Patented May 27, 1958 A detailed description will be set forth hereinafter, reference being made to drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 six pieces of the operating spherical body are fitted on the surface of a base board 1. The base board 1 is of substantially rectangular form, and along the both side edges thereof, on the right side as well as on the left side, there are provided, respectively at two places thereof, recesses as indicated by 2', 2 and 2', 2"", whose shapes are somewhat difierent between the ones on one side and the ones on the other side, and the both sides of each recess are of curved configuration, namely the recesses 2, 2" have curved sides 3', 3" and the recesses 2', 2"" gently curved sides 3, 3"". On the face of the base board six pieces of the operating spherical body 4 are arranged in three rows, a pair each being arranged one on the right and another on the left. And regarding the manner of installing those spherical bodies, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a well or recess 5 is made at a position where said operating spherical body is to be fitted, and thereinto a projected portion 7 depending from the bottom of an intermediate block 6 is fitted tightly and there fixed rigidly by medium of an adhesive agent 8.

Each operating spherical body 4 includes an upper section having an upwardly directed convex surface and a lower section 9 of enlarged cross section separated from the upper section by an upwardly directed shoulder having a depending peripheral annular wall 10. The underface of the lower section 9 is convex and rests in a matching concavity formed in the top face of the intermediate block 6. A cup 12 includes a downwardly outwardly fiareddepending wall, the lower part of which engages the peripheral wall of the block 6 and is secured thereto by adhesive 8. A circular opening 13 is formed in the top of the cup 12 and is surrounded by a peripheral lip 11 projecting inwardly from the wall of the cup 6, the inner edge of the lip 11 being spaced from the walls of the upper section of the spherical body 4 which projects above the opening 13 and is free to rock as illustrated in Figure 6. The collar 10- and the surmounting shoulder is wider than the opening 13 to thereby prevent the separation of the member 4 from the device and the cup wall is spaced from the collar 10 so as not to interfere with the aforesaid rocking movement.

Further, Fig. 3 represents the base board 1 approximately of a square shape, and at the center position of the two opposing sides 2', 2" are formed, the one 2' having curved sides 3, 3", and the other 2" having gently curved sides 3", 3"", and on the both sides of the recesses 2, 2" four pieces of the operating spherical body 4 are provided, two pieces each to the right and to the left. Regarding means of fitting said operating spherical bodies 4 onto the surface of the base board, it is carriedout in the same way as explained heretofore in connection with Fig. 5,-namely a well 5 is provided on the base board, and thereinto a projected portion 7 of an intermediate block 6 is tightly fitted and fixed rigidly by an adhesive 8. Placing the operating spherical body 4 on the intermediate block 6, and further putting a cup 12 thereonto for supporting the spherical body, the lower end of said cup being'fixed rigidly by means of the adhesive agent 8 is accomplished in the manner previously described.

Fig. 4 illustrates a base board whose one side is left straight and its opposite side has formed therein a widemouthed recess 2", both sides thereof 3', 3" being curved, and two pieces of the operating spherical body are fitted on the surface of the base board. The means of fitting said spherical bodies is to be performed in the same man- 7 her as described heretofore.

Namely, the intermediate block 6 and the supporting cup 12 are employed, both being fixed to the surface of the base board 1 by medium oftheadhesive agent 8.:

The tools according to the present invention are to be. manipulated in the followin'g manner, i. e., inserting finger tips in the indented parts provided-on the side edges of the base board 1 and thus holding it at right and left, apply under pressure the topends of the operating spherical bodies onto'the atfectedspot of the human body requiringr remedy. will not take action by only leaving them pressed on the body though it may work on the-body as in the case of the finger-pressure treatment, the base board is to be given movements right. and left, thereupon. the spherical bodies will incline in a direction subject to resistance as illustrated in Fig. 6; Thus rolling pressurewill be trans- Since the operating spherical bodies 1 the neck on the indented partJsdas to contact the spherical bodies 4 with. the shoulders under pressure, thus in mitted to the body as in the case of massagewhich kneading action is done by fingers. Therefore, it can be easily seen that it. is possible according to the present invention to impart a stronger stimulation than by using finger tips, regardless Whether it is just to give thrusting and pressing functions as in the case of finger-pressure treatment, or as in the case of massage kneading operation.

Further, placing the base board 1 on a bed with its surface side turning upward and have the spot of the body requiring remedy rested thereon calmly, thereby it will yield remedial effects, without necessitating any further operation, in thesame way as being done under the finger-pressure treatment.

Thus the whole operating can be accomplished without seeking assistance from out on the outer right and left sides, now doing so, when the indented part is too narrow, the projecting'arcs 3', 3" on both sides will press 'down the neck at either side thereof. Now as a further example, place the base board V 1 turning to the opposite side, that is to have the operating spherical bodies 4 as facing to this side, and deposit this way the thrusting and pressing functions will be effected simultaneously onto theneck and shoulders.

, As fully explained above, the use of the tools according to the present invention will have the merits both of finger-pressure and massage operations. In addition to the above advantage, rnanipulation of the tools can be performed eitherwith assistance of other persons or. by oneself alone. Therefore, it can be deservedly, said that the present invention will afford much practical value and convenience in the field ofremedy 'of this kind.

' Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the present invention and ingwhat manner the same. is to beperformed, claims are hereby presented as follows: V

/ An improved massage; device comprising a base board, a plurality of retaining collars; mounted on said base board and havinginwardly directed flanges along the forward edges thereof, a massage element registering with each'of said collars and having a front cylindrical portion of smaller diameter than the inner. diameter of said flange and a forwardly directed curved working face. and. a rear portion of greater diameter than the inner diameter ofv said. flange and having a rearwardly directed curved face, and a bearing block located in each of said collars and having a curved recess engaging said rearwardly 'directed curved face whereby to permit fre angular movementv of said massage elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED" STATES PATENTS Cheney May 26, 1925 Neff Sept. 27, 1949 

